Hundreds of commuters faced hardship as buses bound for city from Tamil Nadu were stopped a few kilometres away from the inter-state border at Attibele on Hosur Road on Friday in view of the bandh observed in the neighbouring state over the Cauvery row.
Similarly, buses from the city that were bound for Tamil Nadu were also stopped near the border. Drivers were not ready to cross the inter-state border as they feared violence.
Hapless passengers had to get down from the buses, walk a few kilometres and take buses on the other side of the border to reach their destinations.
A police officer from Bengaluru Rural district, who was camping at Attibele said, “We provided security to people who were crossing the border. Announcements were made warning the public not to create any nuisance. The Tamil Nadu police were also appealing people not to panic.”
A few volunteers distributed water packets and also served food to people who were stranded near Attibele and also to those who had to walk long distances to find alternative transport facility.
Seemanth Kumar Singh, Inspector General of Police (Central Range) said, “Special forces along with the local police were deployed in border areas. The SPs had been directed to keep a vigil and update the senior officers about the situation. The vehicular movement at Attibele was low in view of the recent riots in the city,” he said.
In view of the bandh in Tamil Nadu, security was heightened in Bengaluru which had witnessed violence on September 12. No untoward incidents were reported on Friday. The city police and special forces patrolled sensitive areas and those with huge Tamil population.
Police Commissioner N S Megharikh told DH that over 1,000 anti-social elements were taken into preventive custody from Thursday evening till the early hours of Friday.
“The special forces and the police will continue to patrol the sensitive areas. Railway stations and major bus terminals have been provided additional security,” he added.